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NEPTUNE'S CORNER PET SHOP
4416 Pearl Road • Cleveland, OH 44109 (216) 351-0027 www.neptunescorner.com |
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Green Anole Care Sheet
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Common Name:Green Anole Native to: Southeastern United States from Florida to eastern Texas and north to Oklahoma and North Carolina. Green Anoles can also be found in the Bahamas, Cuba, and Mexico. Size: Typically up to 9 inches, though some may reach as large as 12 inches. Life span: If properly kept, green anoles can live 7 to 10 years though the average life span is only three to five years because many die due to improper care and neglect. General appearance: The green anole is a small green lizard with a pointed nose, and a tail that is generally twice as long as its body. They change color to brown when cold or stressed. Both sexes have red throat fans called dewlaps though the male's is bigger and brighter. Green anoles have long skinny toes with ridges on bottom for gripping. Juveniles have a bluish-white stripe down their back. Females keep this stripe in adulthood, though males will lose this stripe. Housing requirements: Enclosure: A pair of green anoles should be kept in an enclosure no smaller than 10 gallons. Taller enclosures are preferred with plants or other types of ornaments to allow the anoles space to climb. Males can not be housed together as they are territorial and will often fight over the limited amount of enclosure space. Males can be kept with one or more females and any number of females can be kept together. Obviously, larger enclosures are needed for larger groups of kept anoles. Because anoles have the ability to climb sheer surfaces, a secure top should always be used with the enclosures. Temperature: Green anoles should be kept with ambient day temperatures of 75° to 80° F with basking temperatures of 85° to 90° F. Temperatures of 65° to 75° F are suitable at night. Heat/Light: Basking areas can be achieved using Exo-Terra Day Glo Bulbs, which provide heat as well as UVA lighting. Under the tank (UTH) heaters can be used to raise the ambient temperature of the enclosure if needed. Substrate: Zilla Terrarium Liner is the easiest to clean, you can also use a sand / mulch mixture, Exo-Terra Forest Bark or Aspen Shavings. Environment: Green anoles come from a tropical to semi-tropical region and require a humidity level of 60% to 70%. To achieve this part of the screen top can be blocked off to help prevent evaporation. The enclosure should also be misted twice daily to help maintain humidity levels as well. Diet: Green anoles are insectivorous. They will eat crickets, mealworms, waxworms, cockroaches, fruit flies and other small insects. All feeder insects should be properly gut-loaded prior to feeding. Offering a variety of different insects will offer the best diet for the anole since different insects have different nutritional values. Care should be used to not overfeed anoles and they should only be offered only as much food as they can eat in one sitting. Maintenance: Clean up feces and urates as soon as you notice them, inspect the cage at least once daily for cleanliness. Replace the water when it becomes soiled or dirty and scrub out the dish. Anoles generally do not drink from standing water which is why it is vitally important that the enclosure be misted daily. Anoles will drink from the water drops that form on the cage ornaments. An aquarium bubbler can also be used in the water dish to simulate moving water to encourage the anole to drink from the bowl. Recommended Products: |
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